Pence wins salary arbitration case against Astros

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A three-member panel sided with Astros right fielder Hunter Pence in his salary arbitration case against the team, giving Pence the $6.9 million salary he sought for the 2011 season rather than the $5.15 million the Astros offered.

The decision also ends the Astros’ run of success in arbitration hearings dating to 1997. They had won four cases in a row, including Wandy Rodriguez’s last year. The Astros’ last loss in a hearing was in 1996 to Rick Wilkins.

Pence credited his agency — the Beverly Hills Sports Council — and the Major League Baseball Players Association for presenting his case Friday in Phoenix.

“The players’ union was really strong for me, and the Sports Council, they really did their homework; they were sharp,” Pence said while also complimenting the Astros’ management side for the case it built against the higher salary. “It was a very fascinating process.

“It’s almost like watching a movie. You can’t say much, you just sit there, and they were really good at their jobs.”

Astros president of baseball operations Tal Smith led the Astros’ effort in the case along with general manager Ed Wade and assistant GM David Gottfried, who flew from Kissimmee to Phoenix. Smith said, as did Pence, that there were no hard feelings from either side and the debate was not contentious.

Smith also said that even considering the tight budgetary concerns with the team dropping payroll amid owner Drayton McLane’s attempt to sell the franchise, there were no plans to move any player because of the extra $1.75 million to Pence.

“This is just part of the process,” Smith said. “We were prepared to go forward whichever way it went.”

The $6.9 million nearly doubles the $3.5 million Pence made last year.

The 2011 season is the second of four arbitration-eligible years before the outfielder possibly hits free agency after 2013.

The 2004 second-round pick of the Astros was voted the team’s most valuable player last year after hitting .282 with a .325 on-base percentage, a .461 slugging percentage and a 25-homer season for the third year in a row.

Pence returned to Florida on Friday after the hearing and took swings and lifted weights a day before position players had to report to spring training.

“I’m excited that it’s all over with, and I can’t wait for spring training Day 1 for position players,” Pence said.